Change in Peripheral Oxygen Saturation by Using Different Breathing Procedures in High Altitude

Study Description

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Brief Summary:

In this investigation the researchers explore whether different types of breathing procedures can improve the peripheral oxygen saturation to reduce the risk of becoming a acute mountain sickness or a high altitude pulmonary edema.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Acute Mountain Sickness	Other: Breathing procedure 1; Other: Breathing procedure 2	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a pathological effect of high altitude on humans caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude. It commonly occurs above 2500 meters of altitude. AMS appears as a collection of nonspecific symptoms acquired at high altitude or in low air pressure resembling a case of "flu, carbon monoxide poisoning, or a hangover".

It is caused by a drop in pressure and lowering partial pressure of oxygen during increasing altitude. The direct consequence of those changes is a hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (Euler-Lijestrand-mechanism). In addition a rise in pulmonary blood pressure (Hypertonia) can occur so that there is a higher risk of developing a high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).

In this investigation the investigators are exploring whether different types of breathing procedures can improve the peripheral oxygen saturation. We are comparing breathing with no regulation with two different procedures of hyperventilation during trekking in different altitudes. Procedure 1 (hyperventilation 1) describes inhalation during one step and exhalation during the next step. Procedure 2 (hyperventilation 2) describes inhalation and exhalation during one step.

The effect of the different breathing procedures can be quantified measuring the peripheral oxygen saturation. In addition the investigators are comparing the breathing rate and the minute ventilation as well as the expiratory end-tidal CO2-partial pressure of the three different breathing procedures.

Furthermore, the investigators are examining the ability to concentrate in order to quantify the effect of AMS on organ functions.

Study Design

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Study Type :	Interventional (Clinical Trial)
Estimated Enrollment :	30 participants
Allocation:	Non-Randomized
Intervention Model:	Single Group Assignment
Masking:	Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose:	Prevention
Study Start Date :	July 2011
Actual Primary Completion Date :	October 2011
Actual Study Completion Date :	November 2011

Arms and Interventions

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Breathing procedure 1; Walking with breathing procedure "1".	Other: Breathing procedure 1; inhalation during one step, exhalation during the next step
Experimental: Breathing procedure 2; Walking with breathing procedure "2".	Other: Breathing procedure 2; inhalation and exhalation during one step
No Intervention: Control group; Walking without any reglementation of breathing

Outcome Measures

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. change of peripheral oxygen saturation [ Time Frame: immediate after intervention ]
   change of peripheral oxygen saturation under different breathing procedures in different altitudes

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. change of breathing parameters [ Time Frame: immediate after intervention ]

   change of breathing parameters under different breathing procedures in different altitudes

   • breathing rate
   • minute ventilation
   • expiratory end-tidal CO2-partial pressure
2. change of cognition [ Time Frame: immediate after intervention ]
   change of ability of cognition (measured by d2-test) under different breathing procedures in different altitudes

Eligibility Criteria

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Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
Sexes Eligible for Study:	All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	Yes

Criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• acute clinically significant inter-current diseases

Contacts and Locations

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Locations

Germany
University of Giessen
Giessen, Hessen, Germany, 35394

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Giessen

MVZ für Laboratoriumsmedizin Koblenz

Investigators

Principal Investigator:	Gabor Szalay, Dr. med.	Trauma surgery - University hospital Giessen

More Information

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Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Responsible Party:	Andree Hillebrecht, Akademischer Rat, University of Giessen
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT01468194 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	Gi-04-2011
First Posted:	November 9, 2011
Last Update Posted:	November 9, 2011
Last Verified:	November 2011

Keywords provided by Andree Hillebrecht, University of Giessen:

AMS; HAPE; high altitude; oxygen	saturation; mountain; climbing; breathing

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Altitude Sickness; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases